Fruit-carrier.



' No. 747,822. 'PATENTED DE'G.'22, 1903'.

s. H WILS'0N. FRUIT CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1903.

m MODEL.

Mtnemaw UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRUIT-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,822, dated December22, 1903.

Application filed May 21, 1903.

To all whom it 17mg concern.- Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. WILSON,citizen of the United States, residing at Goraopolis, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fruit-Carriers, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, in which r v Figure 1 is' aperspective view of my improved collapsible fruit-rack. Fig. 2 is acrosssectional view, on an enlarged scale, indicated by the line II IIof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the supporting-frameworkcollapsed. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the pivoted bracing-arms. Fig. 5is a detail view showing the leg adjusting and locking arms.

My invention refers to improvements in racks or supporting devices forfruit, vegetables, baskets, or other suitable articles or merchandise,being especially designed for the purpose of holding bunches of bananas.

The objects in view are to support and protect the fruit in such amanner as to prevent it from bruising or injury and in such a manner asto allow large quantities of fruit to be transported or stored inlimited spaces and with numerous opportunities for ventilation.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 represents the main supporting-legs ofthe frame assembled in pairs at each end and pivotally connected at 3 bybolts or other suitable devices. The pairs of legs 2 are connected witheach other at top and bottom by longitudinal rods 4, while supplementalbracing-rods 5 may be-employed to further strengthen and brace thestructure, as clearly shown- Secured to the rods 4 at top and bottom andextending across from one to the other are supk porting stretchers orcarriers 6, of any suitable material as canvas, netting, & c. adapted tosupport whatever articles may be placed upon them.

An intermediate carrier 6', of suitable construction,is supported uponlongitudinal rods or bars 7 between the upper and lower carrier, therods or bars being carried by links 8, of any suitable metallic or otherconstruction, depending from the upper rods 4 and by which theintermediate carrier is suspended. This carrier may be freely hung fromSerial No. 158,066. (No model.)

the suspending-links, permitting the flexible structure portion to swingOrsag-under the weight of the supported articles. If it is desired tostretch the supporting member, so as to approximate a flat shelf-likesurface, I have provided pivoted locking-arms 9, journaled at each endto the bolts. 3 and provided with one or more hooks 10, adapted toengage the ends of rods 7, as clearly shown, whereby the rods may berigidly held, so as to prevent sagging or swinging. If itis desired toallow the upper and lower supporting elements to sag likewise, I haveprovided the adjusting device shown in Fig. 5, wherein pivotedlocking-arms 11 are journaled upon one of the rods 5 and adapted toengage the other one of the rods 5 at the opposite side and to hold itsecurely at the desired position relative to the other rod, therebycontrolling the angles of the supporting-legs 2 and permitting thecarrier to sag as much as desired, according to whatever is carried byit.

The device is particularly adapted to. support and display ripe ordelicate fruit, prov,

tecting it from injury by contact and permitting removal from bothsides. It is also capable of being used in box-cars or other suitabletransporting-carriages in which the racks may be closely assembled,while the feature of collapsibility permits of a large number of thedevices being compactly stored for return shipment. The invention iswell adapted for the purpose of displaying fruit for sale, either looseor in baskets, and will be found to provide a convenient, durable, andsuitable device forthe purpose intended. It is cheap and easy toconstruct, not liable to get out of order, andmay be adapted to avariety of uses.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. A fruit-carrierconsisting of pairs of crossed pivoted legs, pairs of upperand lowerlongitudinal supporting-rods connecting the opposite pairs of legs,flexible supportingcarriers secured to the rods, and an intermediatefreely-swinging carrier suspended from the upper rods, substantially asset forth.

2. A fruit-carrier consisting of pairs of crossed pivoted legs, pairs ofupper and lower longitudinal supporting-rods connecting the oppositepairs of legs with flexible supporting-carriers secured to the rods, andan intermediate freely-swinging carrier suspended from the upper rods,with means for holding it rigidly with relation to the supporting-legs,substantially as set forth.

3. A fruit-carrier consisting of pairs of crossed pivoted legs, pairs ofupper and lower longitudinal supporting-rods connecting the oppositepairs of legs with flexible supporting-carriers secured to the rods, anintermediate carrier suspended by links from the upper rods, andholding-braces therefor pivoted to the pivotal leg connecting devices,substantially as set forth.

4. In a fruit-carrier, the combination of oppositely-disposed pairs ofcrossed pivoted legs, upper and lower longitudinal supporting-rodsconnecting the opposite extremities of said 1egs,flexiblesupporting-webs attached to the upper and lower pairs of rods, and anintermediate swinging carrier consisting; of parallel rods suspendedfrom each of the upper rods, with a connecting flexible carrier attachedto said suspended rods, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fruit-carrier, the combination of oppositely-disposed pairs ofcrossed pivoted legs, upper and lower longitudinal supporting-rodsconnecting the opposite extremities of said legs, flexiblesupporting-Webs attached to the upper and lower pairs of rods, and anintermediate swinging carrier consisting of parallel rods suspended fromeach of the upper rods, With a connecting flexible carrier attached tosaid suspended rods, and pivoted arms adapted to engage each of saidsuspended rods, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL H. WILSON.

Witnesses:

CHAS. W. V. FEIGEL, O. M. CLARKE.

